222 NEW OR RARE FISHES, 



expanded from its commencement at the vent to the termination 

 of the dorsal fin, the expansion gradually disappearing at the 

 following third or fourth scute. The lateral row of scales on each 

 side of the tail constitute the expanded edges, these edges are 

 bent downward, and form the boundaries to two inferior shallow 

 grooves separated by a flat portion of equal breadth. The whole 

 of the under surface of the tail thus occupied — about fifteen scutes — 

 although bearing traces of tubercles, is covered with a smooth 

 skin, which, in the breeding season, becomes flaccid and to which 

 the ova are attached. 



The tail of the female bears no trace of the lateral expansion so 

 noticeable in the male, and the scutes of its lower surface are as 

 rough and rugose as any other portion of the body. In the adult 

 the body proper is relatively longer and deeper than in the male. 



This species was originally described from China, bat there are 

 examples in the British Museum from Houtman's Abrolhos, a 

 group of islands oflT Western Australia. Examples in the 

 Australian Museum were labelled " Solenognathus spinosissimus, 

 Port Jackson," and Mr. Whitelegge has obtained specimens at 

 Maroubra Bay. These appear to be the only other localities 

 whence it has been obtained, and it is now recorded for the first 

 time from New South Wales. If the specimens of this family 

 preserved in the museums of other Australian colonies were 

 examined, I have no doubt our knowledge of its distribution 

 would be considerably extended. 



Solenognathus spinosissimus, Giinther. 



(PI. XVII. figs 5 and 8.) 



D. 35-39. Osseous rings 27 + 55, Dorsal surface convex. 

 Forehead concave. Occipital scute in the form of a rosette con- 

 sisting of a median lobe surrounded by 6-8 smaller ones. All 

 parts* covered with very distinct spines, a stronger one arising 



* With the exception of the inferior basal porticn of the tail of the male 

 and the prehensile portion in all species. 



